Disaster Dogs Ireland – Disaster Response Team Ireland.
Ireland is receiving their newest Disaster Dogs as part of a new disaster response team. A German Shepherd and Labrador Retriever will make up the K9 component of Disaster Response Team Ireland. Mambo, the 2 year old European German Shepherd is trained to locate live victims trapped and hidden deep inside buildings that have collapsed. He is also proficient in locating victims of other natural and man-made disasters.
Rebel is also trained as a disaster dog that will also be used to search for victims of disasters. Rebel, a Labrador Retriever, was once rescued himself. He was surrendered when he was younger to a local animal shelter in Louisiana where he was slated to be euthanized. Thanks to a local rescue group, Rebel was saved from the shelter. Then, because of his energy level and love for a ball, he was accepted into the Second Chance Program at Highland Canine Training, LLC. There, his training as a search and rescue dog began.
The handler of the new disaster dogs, Padraig O’Keefe, attended our 12-week Search and Rescue Dog Trainer Course at our School for Dog Trainers in North Carolina. During the course he was able to train the two dogs and specialize in Urban Search and Rescue. Also, during the course, O’Keefe studied everything from the basics of dog behavior to learning how to guide his dogs through complex disaster search and rescue situations. The dogs and handler learned to load and ride on a helicopter, rappel and find multiple victims hidden deep in a rubble pile. “The school and dogs here are a wonderful opportunity. I have learned a massive amount of information and can’t wait to apply it with the dogs back home.” said O’Keefe about the opportunity to work with the dogs during the course.
We offer a number of different courses for Search and Rescue Dog Training so our graduates have all the tools they need to be an effective search and rescue trainer. Our courses teach you how to train disaster dogs, cadaver dogs, wilderness search and rescue dogs and trailing dogs. If you are interested in learning to become a Search and Rescue Dog Trainer or have further questions about our programs and courses, feel free to email us at training@highlandcanine.com or call us at 866.200.2207